Review Date: AUGUST 01, 2006Publisher:CandlewickPages: 56Price (hardback): $16.99Publication Date: 9/1/2006 0:00:00ISBN: 0-7636-2728-3ISBN (hardback): 0-7636-2728-3Category: CHILDREN’SA hysterical take on what might happen if the letters of the alphabet mixed things up a bit. When A tries to start off the show, Z storms the stage with zebra, tired of always being last. So, the letters decide to try it differently. Z Y X W, all is going well until P jumps in, not wanting to be always in the middle. P O N, but then H staggers out, wanting to keep his same spot in the line-up. At that point, it becomes a free-for-all, and the giggles are sure to start. V takes his turn, but then tries to take another so he can say something else that starts with V. Z does not respond kindly to this nonsense: “Ooh, V is for violence.” Without their usual order, the letters have trouble determining if all of them have had a turn, but find U in the nick of time: “U’s been in the bathroom since P took over.” A ends the show spectacularly and earns an apology from Z for his pushiness. Kolar’s illustrations suit the zaniness of the text perfectly. Difficult as it is to imagine, the letters have facial expressions and personalities. A ruled line at the bottom of the spread helps readers keep track of the out-of-order letters. A must for preschool and elementary classrooms. (Picture book. 3-8)